Bemidji, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's hockey team dropped a close battle to the Bemidji State Beavers 3-1 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Saturday at Sanford Center.
 
The Mavericks scored the first goal of the game and held the 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Sophomore winger Claire Butorac received a pass through the slot from sophomore blueliner Anna Wilgren and chipped the puck over the pad of junior netminder Lauren Bench at the 6:00 mark. Butorac's eighth goal of the season currently leads the team.  
 
Sophomore netminder Abigail Levy and the Maverick defense was pitching a shutout until there was two seconds left in the second period. Senior winger Jacqueline Kassa tipped a shot from junior blueliner Mak Langei past Levy right outside the crease. The game was tied heading into the second intermission.

The teams went back and forth in the third period with the game tied up at one. With less than 30 seconds left in the game, the Beavers took the 2-1 lead when junior forward Claire DeGeorge was fed in the middle of the ice from below the red line and went glove side on Levy. DeGeorge also scored an empty net goal to make the final score 3-1.
 
Sophomore Abigail Levy (4-9-3) tied a career high with 43 saves in the loss, making her weekend total of 73.

The Mavericks were outshot by the Beavers by a 46-22 margin. Minnesota State went zero-for-three on the power play, while Bemidji State converted on one of three chances with the man advantage.
 
Now standing with a 8-14-5 (3-12-3-3 WCHA) record, the Mavericks will take a break from WCHA action and face Lindenwood next weekend at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
 
Head coach John Harrington commented following the game.